SAUNIGA ALOAIA O LE TATALAINA O LE NOFOAGA TAU A’OAOGA MO OTAOTA LAFOA’I [Aso Faraile 19 Tesema 2025]

SAUNOAGA AUTU a le afioga i le Minisita o le Matagaluega o Punaoa Faalenatura ma le Siosiomaga Hon. Ale Vena Ale

Sūsū lau Susuga i le ta'ita'i o le Sauniga, Pastor Peter Amosa, Assembly of God Siusega,

Afifio Afioga i Minista o le Kapeneta faapea Minisita lagolago,

Afio lau Afioga i le Amepasa o le Malo o Farani, Guillaume Lemoine

Afio le Faaululuga o le Faalapopopotoga Siosiomaga ile Pasefika (SPREP),

Sūsū sui o Matagaluega a le Mālō ma Poloketi Fesoasoani,

Le Paia lasilasi ua potopoto.

O upu ua masani ai aso faapenei, "o se ua fiafia ina pese ia" o lagona ia, ua fusifuisa ai lenei taeao, aua ua tepa i ula, ua tagai i ula, ua futifuti a manu ula i le alofa ma le agalelei taumulimuli o le Atua, aua ua mafai ona tatou feiloai i lenei aso i luma o nu'u, ae lē o tua o nu'u. O se aso sa taupòina, ole aso sa lupe, sa taumate foi ile ete le faamoemoe pe tatou te aulia ile manuia. A o lea ua tini paò le uto e pei o le upu i faiva o vai, ua taumailelei foi e pei ole igoaipu a Leuluaialii.

Ae o le auga ma le fa'amoemoe o le asō, ua tatou ofaga potopoto mai, se'i o tatou molimauina le tatala aloa'iaina o se tasi o atina'e taua mo le faafoeina lelei o le auaunaga mo Lapisi ma Otaota Lafoai. E le o toe po malae i faafitauli ogaoga ua feagai ma le lalolagi - e aofia ai aafiaga mai suiga ole tau, faaitiitia o le ola faanatura faapea kasa ma vailaau oona mai otaota ma lapisi lafoai.

Ua maitauina le siitia o le tulaga ua iai lapisi ma otaota lafoai i Samoa. O se suesuega lata mai, tau lapisi ma otaota na faatino mo Samoa ile tausaga 2020, na atagia mai ai le tulaga faaletonu ua iai le faatupulaia ole lapisi, e pei ona iai faamaumauga nei:

• 27 miliona kilokalama o otaota lafoai ile tausaga

• Peitai ane, e i lalo ifo ole 3% o lenei fuainumera e toe faaoga (recycled)

• O lenei nofoaga o loo lafoai ai lapisi ma otaota i Tafaigata o le a leai se avanoa e lafoai ai le lapisi i leisi 10 tausaga o lumanai (2035).

O nei faamaumauga o loo atagia mai ai le ogaoga ole faafitauli pe a le faia ai se galuega e faaititiia ai le faatupulaia o lapisi ma otaota.

O lona uiga e tatau ona silasila le Malo ile tuufaatasia ma le faaleleia atili o ana faiga faavae ma tulafono e limata'itaia ai le faafoeina tatau o otaota ma lapisi e pei ona iai le faamoemoe e faatino se lafoga mo otaota mai oloa mai fafo (waste levy) e amata faatino mo atigi fagu uga, apa inu alamini ma atigi taavale ua le toe saogalemu mo le auala tele. O nei galuega taua, ua uuna'ia ai le galulue faatasi o le Malo, nu'u ma afioaga, faalapotopotoga tumaoti ma le au faipisinisi.

O le Poloketi o le SWAP, ua tele lona sao, tauala mai ile SWAP 1 ma le SWAP 2, ile faaleleia o le auaunaga a le Matagaluega e ala lea ile faatinoga o suesuega tau otatoa (waste audits), fa'amamaina o gataifale, polokalame faalea'oaoga ua faamanuiaina ai le silia ma le 50 o tatou tagata faapea le tuufaatasia o se fuafuaga mo le faafoeina lelei o suau'u lafoa'i.

O le fausiaina o lenei Nofoaga Autū na faatupeina e le Poloketi o le SWAP ma o le a avea ma nofoaga mo le faatinoga o polokalame faalea'oaoga mo le mamalu o le atunu'u i mataupu tau otaota ma lapisi e aofia ai a'oga, autalavou, ekalesia, nu'u ma afioaga.

E avea ai lenei avanoa e fa'aleo ai le agaga fa'afetai o le Mālō ile Malo o Farani o loo galulue faapaaga ai ma le SPREP (Faalapotopotoga mo le Puipuia ole Siosiomaga ile Pasefika) mo lenei poloketi taua aemaise lenei Nofoaga autu mo aoaoga mo le faaitiitia o lapisi ma otaota.

Ia aoga lenei nofoaga mo le uunaia ma le faatupulaia o se si'osi'omaga mama ma le maloloina mo le soifua maloloina o Samoa ma ona tagata.

E ia te au le agaga fiafia tele e tatala aloaia ai lenei nofoaga autu mo aoaoga tau otaota ma lapisi.

Soifua ma ia manuia.

LAUNCHING OF THE WASTE MANAGEMENT EDUCATION CENTER

KEYNOTE REMARKS by the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Hon. Ale Vena Ale

Lau susuga i le Taitai o le Sauniga, Pastor Peter Amosa, Assembly of God Siusega

Your Excellency, Ambassador of France to Samoa

Director General of SPREP

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Greetings and welcome to the Official Opening of the Waste Management Education Center.

Samoa's waste management journey from basic collection and disposal to a more modern, sustainable, and shared-responsibility approach is at a critical stage. As we face the Triple Planetary Crisis-climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution-the need for stronger and circular waste systems has become even more urgent. Waste volumes continue to grow, placing pressure on our environment, our communities, and our national resources.

The National Waste Audit 2020 for Samoa estimated that:

• Approximately 27 million kilograms of waste are disposed of at landfills each year;

• Less than 3% of this waste is recycled; and

• The Tafaigata Landfill is expected to reach full capacity by 2035 if current trends continue.

In response, the Government is strengthening its policies and introducing tools such as the proposed Waste Levy to support Extended Producer Responsibility, to initially target PET plastic bottles, aluminium cans and end-of-life vehicles.

This reflects a clear understanding that government alone cannot manage the impacts of pollution. Producers, importers, businesses, communities, and individuals all play a vital role. Through waste audits, regional partnerships, and evidence-based initiatives, Samoa is working toward a cleaner and more resilient future.

The Sustainable Waste Actions in the Pacific (SWAP) Project has been central in shaping Samoa's approach to waste, especially as we navigate the global challenges of climate, biodiversity, and pollution. Through SWAP Phase 1 and now Phase 2, we have moved from awareness to practical action. Clean-ups, beach audits, marine litter surveys, and training for more than 50 participants have strengthened community ownership and reinforced the link between waste management, ecosystem health, and climate resilience.

The National Used Oil Management Plan developed through SWAP is a key milestone. It promotes shared responsibility for the safe handling and removal of used oil, reducing pollution risks to our soil, water, and marine ecosystems.

This Center will serve as Samoa's hub for waste management education, awareness, and engagement. It is a place where schools, youth groups, churches, and communities can learn about good waste practices, marine litter prevention, responsible consumption, and recycling. It allows MNRE to translate technical information into simple and inspiring messages that support behavioural change at the household level.

On behalf of Government, I extend our sincere appreciation to the Agence Française de Développement or French Development Agency, SPREP, and all our partners and communities who continue to demonstrate commitment in safeguarding our environment.

As we open this Waste Management Education Center, let us reaffirm our collective responsibility as custodians of our land and ocean in the face of the Triple Planetary Crisis. May this Center inspire informed choices, strengthen environmental values, and support Samoa's vision for a cleaner, healthier, and more resilient future.

I now declare this Waste Management Education Center officially open.

God Bless